About

GWP’s VISION is a water secure world. Our MISSION is to advance governance and management of water resources for sustainable and equitable development.

OUR UNIQUE VALUE: GWP mobilises action on the global water crisis through a unique combination of social capital, shared values, credibility within the global water community, bottom-up orientation, and expertise. A network of networks, we ensure the ‘voices of water’ can inﬂuence local, national, regional, and global development priorities. We are committed to our role as a neutral convener and respected for our focus on inclusiveness and sustainability.

Learn

GWP creates and communicates information about integrated water resources management which contributes to improved water governance and, ultimately, water security.

Together with our Partners, we provide knowledge resources and capacity building activities for solving water problems.

Partner

Institutional Partners are the basis of GWP's multi-stakeholder partnership. A strong, diverse partnership can bring about the changes needed to achieve a water secure world. In this section, learn about the benefits of being a Partner and meet a few who already are. We invite like-minded organisations to join us!

GWP Regions

This is where you can find links to the websites of our Regional Water Partnerships (RWPs). RWPs are closest to the countries where we work. They share knowledge and learning across national boundaries and are expected to have an open, inclusive, and gender-sensitive policies for bringing together as wide a group of stakeholders as possible to solve water problems.

Bioparques Civil Partnership in Venezuela

Interview with Viviana Salas from Bioparques Civil Partnership in Venezuela.

What is the vision and mission of your organisation?

The vision of the Bioparques Civil Partnership is to become an organisation capable of contributing to Venezuela's sustainable development, 1) updated information on the characteristics, conditions and importance of our National Parks and other protected areas and 2) leaders’ training for these areas conservancy.

Our mission is to contribute to the conservation of national parks and other protected areas in Venezuela through citizen participation.

Why did you decide to become a GWP Partner?

I decided to become a GWP Partner because water is an important environmental service provided by the National Parks and other protected areas. Citizens perceive water as the main direct benefit from these areas. One of the most important reasons for the creation of protected areas in Venezuela has been the protection (care) of basins which provide water and electricity to the cities.

Which are the benefits of being a GWP Partner?

Being part of a global network that includes members from all sectors: public, private, academia, communities and NGOs.

Another benefit I found is the possibility to exchange updated water-related information with organisations from different countries, in order to broaden our perspectives.

What is one challenge facing the management of water resources in your region?

The concept of managing water in an integrated way (is one challenge that water resources management is facing in our region). To start with, there is little coordination between stakeholders involved in water resources management. On the other hand, most people live in urban areas, so they don’t perceive the relationship between the water coming to their homes and nature conservation.

Are there any special projects or initiatives that you would like more widely known?

I would like to learn more about the concept of “water footprint” to use it as a mechanism for public awareness.

Profile

Viviana Salas is a biologist graduated at the Simon Bolívar University (Venezuela), and has a doctorate in zoology at the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom). Founder and Executive Director of BioParques Civil Association since 2002, she is currently completing a Master course in Environmental Management at Andes University (Colombia).

Page last edited: 7/4/2010